The Holy Theophany of Our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ

An Eastern Catholic Pastoral Explanation for Catechumens and Newcomers

Introduction: What Is Theophany?

The Holy Theophany of Our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ, celebrated on January 6 (January 19 Old Style), is one of the Great Feasts of the Eastern Christian tradition. The word Theophany means “manifestation of God.”

On this day, the Church celebrates the Baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River, where God reveals Himself not in abstraction or theory, but in living, saving action.

In the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox tradition, Theophany stands alongside the Nativity as a feast of divine revelation:

  • at Christmas, Christ is revealed in the flesh as the Light of the world;

  • at Theophany, He is revealed openly as Son of the Father, anointed by the Holy Spirit.

For this reason, the feast is sometimes described as the first great revelation of the Holy Trinity, distinct yet inseparably connected to Pentecost.

The Revelation of the Holy Trinity

At the Jordan River, three divine actions occur simultaneously:

  • The Son stands in the water, humbly receiving baptism from John.

  • The Father speaks from heaven: “This is My beloved Son.”

  • The Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove.

This is why the Church sings in the Troparion of the feast:

“When You, O Lord, were baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was revealed.”

The Trinity is not explained philosophically, but revealed through divine action.
As Saint Basil the Great teaches, the mystery of God is known not by argument, but by encounter.

For catechumens and seekers, Theophany proclaims a fundamental truth of the Christian faith: God is communion, and salvation flows from the loving self-revelation of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Why Is Christ Baptized?

A common question arises: Why does Jesus undergo baptism if He is without sin?

Eastern Christian tradition answers clearly: Christ is baptized not for His own purification, but for ours.

Saint John Chrysostom explains that Christ enters the Jordan:

  • not to be cleansed,

  • but to cleanse the waters,

  • so that through water, humanity may be healed and reborn.

By entering the river, Christ sanctifies all creation and prepares the way for Christian Baptism, through which believers are united to His death and resurrection.

The Catechism Christ – Our Pascha teaches that in Theophany:

Christ restores creation to its original blessing and opens the way for human regeneration.

The Great Blessing of Water

One of the most distinctive elements of Theophany in the Eastern Catholic tradition is the Great Blessing of Water.

This is not a symbolic reenactment, nor a magical ritual. It is a sacramental prayer, invoking the Holy Spirit to make water once again a bearer of divine grace — as it was at creation, at the Red Sea, and now at the Jordan.

Blessed water is used:

  • to bless homes,

  • to pray for healing,

  • to remind the faithful that God sanctifies daily life.

In Ukrainian tradition, this blessing is closely tied to:

  • home visitations after Theophany,

  • generosity and hospitality,

  • shchedrivky (songs of blessing), which proclaim abundance not as wealth, but as life lived in God’s grace.

Theophany and Christian Baptism

For those preparing for baptism, Theophany reveals what baptism truly is:

  • a new beginning,

  • a passage from darkness to light,

  • entry into the life of the Holy Trinity.

For those already baptized, the feast is a renewal of baptismal identity.

This is why, during the Divine Liturgy of Theophany, the Church replaces the Trisagion hymn with:

“All who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

The feast reminds the faithful that baptism is not merely a past event, but a present calling to live as children of light.

Historical Roots of the Feast

Historically, Theophany is one of the most ancient Christian feasts, attested as early as the third century. In the early Church, it encompassed several manifestations of Christ — His Nativity, Baptism, and first miracle — before these were liturgically distinguished.

In the East, Theophany retained its strong focus on illumination (phota), emphasizing Christ as the Light revealed to the world.

The day following the feast, the Church celebrates the Synaxis of Saint John the Baptist, honoring the Forerunner who humbly prepared the way and bore witness to Christ.

Conclusion: God Has Come Near

The Holy Theophany proclaims a simple yet profound truth:

God is not distant.
God enters the waters of human life.
God reveals Himself so that humanity may live.

For catechumens, seekers, and the faithful alike, Theophany is an invitation:

  • to trust the God who draws near,

  • to enter the waters with Christ,

  • to live illuminated by His presence.

As the Church joyfully proclaims:

Christ is baptized!
In the Jordan!